W. Allen Wigington, Chief Judge

Chief Judge W. Allen Wigington was originally appointed as a Judge in the Magistrate Court of Pickens County in August of 2008. In April 2011, Judge Wigington was appointed by the Superior Court Judges of the Appalachian Judicial Circuit as the Chief Judge of the Magistrate Court to fill an unexpired term left vacate by a retirement. He was elected to serve another four year term in 2012. Judge Wigington also serves as the Associate Judge of the Probate Court of Pickens County.

Judge Wigington serves as a Past President for the Council of Magistrate Court Judges. Judge Wigington serves as a member of the faculty for the Institute of Continuing Judicial Education of Georgia, which is responsible for the continuing education for all of Georgia’s judges. In 2012, Judge Wigington was named the Council of Magistrate Court Judges “Workhorse Judge of the Year”. In 2017, Judge Wigington was named as the “Georgia Magistrate Court Judge of the Year”.

Prior to his appointment to the Magistrate Court, Judge Wigington served for a number of years in law enforcement. With the Office of the Sheriff in Pickens County he attained and retired from the office at the rank of Chief Deputy Sheriff after service in each division and rank. Judge Wigington also served as the Chief of Police for the City of Nelson, Georgia for five years. Judge Wigington remains active in the training of law enforcement in the field of Domestic Violence. Judge Wigington served on the curriculum development committee for Rural Domestic Violence Training at the National Center for State and Local Training at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. Judge Wigington served by appointment with the United States Department of Justice Violence Against Women Office in Washington, DC as a Grant Reviewer for several years. Judge Wigington holds degrees in Social Work, Criminal Justice and Justice Administration.

Judge Wigington is an active member of Jasper United Methodist Church, a member of the Board of Directors for the Appalachian Children’s Center and a member of the Board of Directors at Pickens Animal Rescue. Since 21012, Judge Wigington has served as an appointed member of the Highland Rivers Community Service Board and is currently serving as Chairman of the Board. He and his wife Rosie have two children, Kate and Jack.

Alan Morris, Judge

Richard W. Howard, Associate Judge

David W. Lindsey, Associate Judge

Judge David W. Lindsey was elected to the office of Probate Judge of Pickens County in 2012 and began his term of office on January 1, 2013. Judge Lindsey was also appointed in 2013 to serve as an Associate Judge of the Magistrate Court of Pickens County.

Judge Lindsey was born and raised in Jasper, Georgia and graduated from Pickens County High School. After high school, Judge Lindsey enrolled in the University of Georgia in Athens and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1993. In 1996, he received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Georgia School of Law. While in law school, Judge Lindsey was a founding member of the Georgia League for Rural Enhancement and had the privilege of serving as an intern for Congressman Ed Jenkins in Washington, D.C.

Upon graduation from law school, Judge Lindsey returned to Pickens County and served two years as law clerk in the Appalachian Judicial Circuit for Judge Brenda S. Weaver and Judge Bobby C. Milam. From 1998-2012, he engaged in the general practice of law based in Jasper, Georgia and Canton, Georgia, focusing his practice primarily in the areas of probate, real estate, civil litigation, municipal law, and family law. He served as the City Attorney for the City of Ellijay from 1999-2012 and as the public defender for the City of Jasper Municipal Court.

Judge Lindsey is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and the Appalachian Bar Association. When away from judicial activities, Judge Lindsey enjoys spending time with his wife, Marie, and their two children, Carter and Sophie, supporting the University of Georgia Bulldogs football team, reading, and golfing. He and his family are members of the Jasper United Methodist Church.